Electronic program guide using markup language

Abstract

An interactive television program guide is provided. Program guide display elements are arranged and styled using markup language documents. These markup language documents may also indicate and select program guide functions. The program guide interprets the markup language documents and generates the display screens and program guide functionality without user intervention. The program guide may also be updated by supplying new markup language documents that modify display screens and program guide functionality. The markup language documents may be supplied by a main facility or a television distribution facility.

1. A method for allowing an operator to update a functionality characteristic of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment, the method comprising:
 allowing the operator to remotely supply a markup language document to the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment; 
 updating the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide based on the markup language document using the interactive television program guide; and 
 generating a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the program guide display screen comprises a display element that executes the updated functionality characteristic of the program guide in response to user input. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the updated functionality characteristic causes a plurality of television program listings displayed on the display screen to change in response to a user input. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from being displayed on a portion of the screen having a first size to a portion of the screen having a second size, where the second size is larger than the first size. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from an arrangement by channel to an arrangement by theme. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from displaying the listings in the form of a grid to a list. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the updated functionality characteristic causes, in response to user input, the program guide to display a program listings information screen, start a recording, set a favorite channel, or set a reminder. 
     
     
       8. The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the markup language document is a Hyper Text Markup Language document, a Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language document, or an Extensible Markup Language document. 
     
     
       9. A system for allowing an operator to update a functionality characteristic of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment, the system comprising:
 an operator server for remotely supplying a markup language document to the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment; and 
 a client processor for i) updating the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide based on the markup language document, and ii) for generating a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9  wherein the program guide display screen comprises a display element that executes the updated functionality characteristic of the program guide in response to user input. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the updated functionality characteristic causes a plurality of television program listings displayed on the display screen to change in response to a user input. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from being displayed on a portion of the screen having a first size to a portion of the screen having a second size, where the second size is larger than the first size. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from an arrangement by channel to an arrangement by theme. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from displaying the listings in the form of a grid to a list. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the updated functionality characteristic causes, in response to user input, the program guide to display a program listings information screen, start a recording, set a favorite channel, or set a reminder. 
     
     
       16. The system defined in  claim 9  wherein the markup language document is a Hyper Text Markup Language document, a Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language document, or an Extensible Markup Language document. 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable program codes embodied therein for performing interactive television program guide operations, the non-transitory computer readable medium program codes performing functions comprising:
 allowing an operator to update a functionality characteristic of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment; 
 allowing the operator to remotely supply a markup language document to the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment; 
 updating the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide based on the markup language document using the interactive television program guide; and 
 generating a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having the functionality characteristic of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17  wherein the program guide display screen comprises a display element that executes the updated functionality characteristic of the program guide in response to user input. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the updated functionality characteristic causes a plurality of television program listings displayed on the display screen to change in response to a user input. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from being displayed on a portion of the screen having a first size to a portion of the screen having a second size, where the second size is larger than the first size. 
     
     
       21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from an arrangement by channel to an arrangement by theme. 
     
     
       22. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the displayed plurality of television program listings change from displaying the listings in the form of a grid to a list. 
     
     
       23. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the updated functionality characteristic causes, in response to user input, the program guide to display a program listings information screen, start a recording, set a favorite channel, or set a reminder. 
     
     
       24. The non-transitory computer readable medium defined in  claim 17  wherein the markup language document is a Hyper Text Markup Language document, a Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language document, or an Extensible Markup Language document. 
     
     
       25. A method for updating aspects of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment, the method comprising:
 receiving a markup language document at the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment; 
 updating an aspect of the interactive television program guide based on the received markup language document using the interactive television program guide; and 
 generating and displaying a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having aspects of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document. 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25  wherein the receiving comprises:
 allowing an operator to remotely supply the markup language document; and 
 the markup language document being received without intervention by the user. 
 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 25  wherein the markup language document is a Hyper Text Markup Language document, a Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language document, or an Extensible Markup Language document. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 25  wherein the aspects of the program guide comprise display characteristics of the program guide. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 25  wherein the aspects of the program guide comprise functionality characteristics of the program guide. 
     
     
       30. A system for updating aspects of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment, the system comprising:
 a receiver for receiving a markup language document at the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment; and 
 a processor for i) updating an aspect of the interactive television program guide based on the received markup language document using the interactive television program guide, and ii) for generating and displaying a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having aspects of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document. 
 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 30  further comprising a communication link for allowing an operator to remotely supply the markup language document, the markup language document being received without intervention by the user. 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 30  wherein the markup language document is a Hyper Text Markup Language document, a Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language document, or an Extensible Markup Language document. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 30  wherein the aspects of the program guide comprise display characteristics of the program guide. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 30  wherein the aspects of the program guide comprise functionality characteristics of the program guide. 
     
     
       35. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer readable program codes embodied therein for performing interactive television program guide operations, the non-transitory computer readable medium program codes performing functions comprising:
 updating aspects of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment; 
 receiving a markup language document at the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment; 
 updating an aspect of the interactive television program guide based on the received markup language document using the interactive television program guide; and 
 generating and displaying a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having aspects of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document. 
 
     
     
       36. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 35  wherein the receiving comprises:
 allowing an operator to remotely supply the markup language document; and 
 the markup language document being received without intervention by the user. 
 
     
     
       37. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 35  wherein the markup language document is a Hyper Text Markup Language document, a Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language document, or an Extensible Markup Language document. 
     
     
       38. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 35  wherein the aspects of the program guide comprise display characteristics of the program guide. 
     
     
       39. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 35  wherein the aspects of the program guide comprise functionality characteristics of the program guide. 
     
     
       40. A method for allowing an operator to update a characteristic of an interactive television program guide implemented on a user television equipment, the method comprising:
 allowing the operator to remotely supply a markup language document to the interactive television program guide implemented on the user television equipment; 
 updating the characteristic of the interactive television program guide based on the markup language document using the interactive television program guide; and 
 generating a program guide display screen on the user television equipment having the characteristic of the interactive television program guide as updated based on the markup language document.